266 WHALING 



bargoed by the ice along this shore, as also those that have been 

 wrecked, I am requested to make known to you our deplorable 

 situation, and ask your assistance. 



''We have for the last fifteen days been satisfied that there 

 is not the slightest possibility of saving any of our ships or 

 their property, in view of the fact that the northern barrier of 

 ice has only a narrow belt of water from one quarter to one half 

 mile in width, extending from Point Belcher to south of Icy 

 Cape. In sounding out the channel, we find from Wainwright 

 Inlet to about five miles east-northeast from Icy Cape the 

 water in no place of sufficient depth to float our lightest-draught 

 vessel with a clean hold, in many places not more than three 

 feet. 



''Before knowing your vessels were in sight of Icy Cape, we 

 lightered the brig Kohola to her least draught, also brig Vic- 

 toria hoping we should be able to get one of them into clear 

 water to search for some other vessel to come to our aid in 

 saving some of our crews. Both vessels now lie stranded off 

 Wainwright Inlet. 



"That was our last hope, until your vessels were discovered 

 by one of our boat expeditions. Counting the crews of the four 

 wrecked ships, we number some twelve hundred souls, with 

 not more than three months' provisions and fuel; no clothing 

 suitable for winter wear. An attempt to pass the winter here 

 would be suicidal . Not more than two hundred out of the twelve 

 hundred would survive to tell the sufferings of the others. 



"Looking our deplorable situation squarely in the face, we 

 feel convinced that to save the lives of our crews a speedy 

 abandonment of our ships is necessary. A change of wind to 

 the north for twenty-four hours would cause the young ice 

 to make so stout as to effectually close up the narrow passage 

 and cut off our retreat by boats. 



"We reahze your peculiar situation as to duty, and the 

 bright prospects you have for a good catch in oil and bone be- 

 fore the season expires, and now call on you, in the voice of 

 humanity, to abandon your whaling, sacrifice your personal 

 interests as well as that of your owners, and put yourselves 



